The Times When the Genius of Tyrion Lannister Prevailed in 'Game of Thrones'

If there's one thing many of the main characters in Game of Thrones have in common, it's their penchant (unconscious or not) for killing other characters to advance their agendas. Cersei blew up her enemies in the Great Sept of Baelor, Daenerys certainly has no problem flambeéing people, and even the Stark siblings have had their own fair share of executions.

But of all these key players, Tyrion Lannister seems to be one of the only characters who would rather not have blood on his hands. Yes, he did take the life of his girlfriend and of his own father, but only because he was pushed to the edge. The acts, in fact, broke him, robbed him of his will to live, and he lost everything else in the process.

If you are sympathetic to the character, you're not the only one. Credits go to Peter Dinklage who has done an incredible job portraying the youngest Lannister, with his performance as Tyrion so convincing and relatable.

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Tyrion, in spite of his sharp intellect and keen mind for strategy, isn't perfect. As evident since the start of the seventh season, it is clear his preference for doing things the “right” way and underestimating his sister, Cersei, cost his side three major allies that would have been instrumental in taking King's Landing. And finally during this week's episode, it is clear Daenerys is done taking advice from him.

At this point, it may seem all but over for our favorite little person. Still, let's not forget the characteristics that make Tyrion so special and likeable in the first place, which keeps he's still very much in the game: his innate ability to read people, his mastery of persuasion, and his ability to talk his way out of certain situations.

And if the teaser for Episode Five isany indication, these skills may play a big part in the rest of the season, as when Varys tells him he needs to “find a way to make her (Daenerys) listen," as the Dragon Queen is showing signs of ruthlessness like her father.

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So without further ado, here are some examples of Tyrion's use of his gift of gab:

That time when he almost got his throat slit and had his man part chopped off. Others would have panicked and begged for their life in this situation, but not Tyrion. By raising a valid point, he was able to convince his captors to keep him alive.

"You can't just hand a dry cock to a merchant, and expect him to pay for it. He has to know it came from a dwarf. And how could he know? Unless he sees the dwarf?"

Or when he deliberately dumbed down his language so the jailer could understand him and deliver his message to Lisa Arryn.

"Sometimes possession is an abstract concept."

"I will be in your debt. I will owe you gold. If you deliver the message."

Or that time in the second season when he came up with a brilliant idea to expose a whistleblower within the small council—by telling three different narratives to three different people.

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"I told no one that I was offering her to the Dornish. No one but you."

When he convinced his cousin, Lancel, to spy on Cersei for him by blackmailing him, of course.

"I want to know what Cersei is doing. Where she goes, who she sees, what they talk of, everything. And you will tell me."

When he started narrating Daenerys' story to keep her interested, eventually landing him the role of adviser.

"If you'd rather return to the fighting pits, just say the word."

"When I was a young man, I heard a story about a baby born during the worst storm in living memory."

He demanded a trial by combat, instead of a regular court proceeding, when he was set to be tried for poisoning his nephew, King Joffrey. Which was a brilliant move because he was allowed to look for a champion to fight for him, as he's a dwarf.

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"So I will let the gods decide my fate. I demand a trial by combat."

When he knew exactly what to say to boost the morale of the defending forces during the Battle of the Blackwater Bay.

"Don't fight for your king, and don't fight for his kingdoms. Don't fight for honor, don't fight for glory, don't fight for riches because you won't get anything."

"This is your city Stannis means to sack. That's your gate he's ramming. If he gets in, it will be your houses he burns. Your gold he steals."

"Let's go kill them!"

And finally, during the last scene of episode four, when Tyrion knew exactly what Jaime intended to do and could only utter...